Announcement of the Spring Hunting referendum and the local council elections date will be given by the end of the month, Justice Minister Owen Bonnici announced this morning.

The date of the local council election vote will be moved from March and will be held on the same date as the referendum when announced.

Currently, the decision is being taken to the Office of the President, where it is expected to be in her hands before noon.

Dr Bonnici, following the decision by the court to uphold the referendum against spring hunting, said that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat does not want to wait till the end of the month to announce the date and will announce a date before then.

Dr Bonnici said that nearly half a million votes will be cast in the local council election and in the referendum together.

EU citizens living in Malta will be allowed to vote in the local council elections but not in the referendum. This will be the first time in Maltese history that 16-year-old's will be granted a vote.